I think we all fell in love with the Something’s Gotta Give dining room, with the dark table, beautifully slipcovered chairs, and that wall of white china against the creamy beadboard. Swoonworthy, if anything could be described as that. Now, I wasn’t trying to copy this room completely, but I did have this in mind for the feel and look I wanted in my dining room if I was going to the trouble to repaint and add all that picture molding. And I’m happy to say, I got just the feel I wanted.
I’ll show you a couple of pics of the finished picture molding before I moved the furniture back in place so you can get an idea of the expanse of it and I’ll do another post later, showing the steps I took to do it. Right now I just want to show off the dining room!
Now, I’ll just tell you up front, that the job I did is absolutely NOT perfect by any means. If I showed you all the corners up close and the paint job details, I can guarantee it would not pass inspection by a master carpenter. But, for my needs and wants, it is just FINE. The hardest part is keeping them all the same size and if you put a tape measure to mine, you’d find many discrepancies. But, you know what…when the furniture is all moved back into place, that picture frame molding is merely a backdrop…..
To a lighter and airier paint color and feel in the dining room. I’m in love with it! I don’t think I’ll miss the red at all now. I took these pics at different times of the day and you’ll even see the table set in a couple of them. We had friends over for dinner on Friday night and got to actually enjoy the newly done space. The color looks lighter in many pics because of the sun coming in. It’s a neutral creamy vanilla color, with a hint of yellow/gold. If anyone really wants the paint color, since I used leftover paint from Grandma’s house & the color had been tweaked, I’ll tell you that it’s dead-on with Sherwin Williams Antique White, which is the lightest color on the strip I used in most of our house, the Whole Wheat color strip.
I really love how the mahogany furniture shows up so much better now.
Everything just pops out more.
Of course, the white dishes are more subdued against this color than they were against the red, but I really love the calm feeling they have now. I’m thinking about switching out the mirror for my large botanical print that is now in the living room. I’ll play around with that later.
The accessories are subject to changing and moving around.
And I’m trying out a botanical print up here on top of the china cabinet.
Love these plates that I’ve had for a few years now and they really show up well now on this lighter color.
The toile panels, made 8 years ago by my mom are still a favorite and I don’t plan to retire them anytime soon. It’s true that toile is really a classic. I really, really wanted to paint the ceiling a soft robin’s egg blue, but the man I live with nixed that idea, so I have to come up with another one. He detests light blue paint and since I got my way with the beachy guestroom and bath downstairs, that is going to have to do it for me with the lighter blues. I won’t tell you what he said about light blue paint, since it will offend someone, but just for the record, I’ll not be using light blue paint on the ceilings or anywhere else for that matter. He’s been great about letting me do what I want, so I can’t even argue that one. So, I’m thinking I’ll go with a darker shade of my golden colors, maybe Believeable Buff on the ceiling. What do you think about that??
Other side with the my white dish collection. I need to add a few to this side and I’ve got room for a few more on the wall.
So calming.
These thriftstore birds are a perfect mix with my white dishes.
Table set for company
Corner with an extra chair and my vintage columns. I’d love to find a large architectural fragment for the top of the columns.
This is an accurate shot of the color. You can see how it mixes with Whole Wheat in the adjoining living room and foyer.
See the botanical peeking through on the left there in the living room? That’s what I may put above the sideboard. What do you think about that? I could move the mirror to another spot. See how I turned the corner with the molding?! I was so proud of myself for that one. Like I said though, you can’t look too close. I’m SO glad I did the picture molding. It’s such a nice detail to this room now. Look out…I’ll be adding more of the stuff around here now.
Looking in from the living room.
And peeking across the foyer to the dining room. It’s really amazing how paint changes everything! If you’re contemplating making a paint change, just do it. That’s the easiest way to get an update and you’ll be glad you did. As much as I loved the red, I know I’m going to enjoy this one a lot longer.
As promised, I’ll do a detailed post about how I installed the picture molding. It really wasn’t hard, just a little tedious with the measuring and putting it into place. Totally worth it!
Related Links: Dining Room in Red and the Creamware Collection.
I plan to also do some posts about buying furniture and building the bones of your home, so be on the lookout for future discussions. My motto is to buy the best you can afford when it comes to casegood pieces (wood), whether it be antique or new. Of course, if you’ve been reading my blog very long, you know how I feel about older wood pieces. You can find so many great deals out there on vintage pieces of furniture. So, let’s discuss some of that and I’ll give you some tips on how I shopped for my furniture that I’ve accumulated over the last 20 years. I think I’ve learned a few things I can pass on!
Thanks for stopping by! I’ve got a special guest who will be guest posting for me on Tuesday, so you will not want to miss that either.
Wow, what a great job you did!!! I would love to do that….I’ll wait for the tutorial.
Thanks for Sharing the update!
Everything is wonderful. You did a great job. I adore all of the bunnies you have displayed. 🙂
Oh! I loved the red, so I didn’t expect to like this new softer palatte, but I LOVE it. Its so soothing. You have such an eye!!
OH, it IS so calming! I love it!
Suzanne
Rhoda, I just love it! It is so calming yet still welcoming. You did an amazing job on the moulding. I don’t think I would be brave enough to attempt that!
Rhoda, it is a DREAM!!! I have been looking for a new paint color for my dining room, and I (you) just found it! I LOVE it! Absolutely gorgeous! By the way, ANY detail you can give on the wainscoting will be greatly appreciated. It’s going to be a summer project of mine, and I’ve never done it before! Thanks!
Oh Rhoda is it AWESOME! As always I love love love what you’ve done! Thank you for answering my question about my old plain Jane doors and the trim. 🙂
I have a piece in the attic left over from the house that I think I will play with. In fact there are SEVERAL pieces left over up there. lol
awesome Rhoda! GREAT JOB once again!
You oughtta be very proud of your work. Your home is beautiful. I also love toile, especially the original black toile. Nowadays they make it many colors, but black is still the best for me. Black on white. I have drapes in toile in my bedroom, along with the bedding and matching pillows. I use the bedding during Autumn and Winter. For Spring and Summer I use a soft, white comforter, but I leave the drapes up year round. Your blog is always awe-inspiring.
You did a beautiful job Rhoda. Simply beautiful.
Lisa
Divine!!!
The room is pure southern sophistication.
Your white dish collection looks stunning!
I finally got your post to pull up and you’re right, it is swoonworthy! (love that word). I think when I re-do the foyer and dining room, I’ll definately add some moulding as it really makes a room more elegant. The colors are extremely calming and you know how I feel about the white cremeware and dark furniture, both of which I have in my dining room right now. So, the dining room and foyer may be getting a re-do sooner than I thought!
You did a great job and I’m looking forward to reading about how you did the cutting of the wood, etc.
As always, you are my inspiration Rhoda!
Love ya,
Judy
Well, you did it again girl!! Beautiful! I love it. Do you ever run out of energy? I mean, you just finished the beachy room and here you go again. I like the mirror of the sideboard. Maybe take down a few pieces of the creamware and add a few botanticals photos on easels to the white shelves? Just my idea. I trying to catch up on reading blogs. . . because I just got back from visiting my parents in Florida (nightmare trip, but thankfully, I was there to nurse them both back to health).
Blessings,
Sher
Good golly I love it! I wasn’t too sure last year when you mentioned you wanted to change the color as I really loved the white dishes against the red but this turned out really pretty!
You are amazing! Doing that picture molding yourself! It looks fantastic! You should be really proud of yourself for tackling something like this! It turned out great!
Manuela
You have a beautiful home. You did a great job on your picture frame molding. I never would have thought to wrap around the corner, but it works. Great job.
That is absolutely fabulous! I love the way you take on things yourself and are not intimidated or feel like things have to be perfect. The dining room is perfect to me and just delicious – what more can I say?! Linda
Rhoda…this is absolutely beautiful…I loved it in red and I love it in this soft neutral. Just outstanding! I agree with the poster who said keep the mirror…it is perfect where it is! I enjoy your blog and “tune” in often to follow your work and dreams. Carry on !!!!!!!
Sheila from west Michigan
it’s BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! I absolutely love it and I’m totally jealous!!!! :o)
My first reaction? Luscious!!!
Hi Rhoda,
The dining room is beautiful. It doesn’t look like the same house!
I thought it was pretty before, but I love the change!
I LOVE IT. Oh my, that is awesome! You did a fantastic job.
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Way to go!